Explore the Botanical and Tea Gardens of Golden Gate Park, San Francisco

Golden Gate Park

Golden Gate Park, the second largest in San Francisco after the Presidio, is an urban oasis of 1,017 acres on the west side of the city. At 3.5 miles in length and one-half mile wide, the park offers a plethora of outdoors opportunities for residents and visitors to enjoy. You will find a connected system of curved paths, seemingly endless gardens, scenic ponds, wide open meadows, and a wide-ranging collection of recreational sites to enjoy here.

Most of the parks’ acreage consists of reclaimed windblown sand dunes, though visitors may be oblivious to this due to the magical transformation of the land by the original planners starting in 1870.

In addition to areas for biking, pedal boating, playing baseball and soccer, or attending an outdoor concert, Golden Gate Park is home to cultural spots such as the de Young Museum, California Academy of Sciences (aquarium, planetarium, rain forest, and natural history museum), the ever-popular San Francisco Botanical Garden, the Beach Chalet, Conservatory of Flowers, and the Japanese Tea Garden. And for those who really want to be active, there is a public golf course as well as tennis and pickleball courts.

San Francisco Botanical Garden

More than 8,000 varieties of plants are grown and conserved within this magnificent 55-acre in Golden Gate Park. There are lush, landscaped gardens and ample open spaces for leisurely strolling through areas that replicate locations around the world.

Another area of the San Francisco Botanical Garden at Strybing Arboretum is the flora collection from Australia, California, Chile, Japan, and many other countries around the globe. Visitors will marvel at the vibrant rhododendrons, camellias, magnolias, and other succulents that prosper here in a dazzling array of colors.

The gardens are perfect for a brief or longer visit, so don’t overlook coming here if your schedule is tight. In fact, walking the loop of just the main trails can be accomplished in a mere 20 minutes. So much the better, of course, if you have a couple of hours to explore the entire botanical garden. There are dozens of short offshoot trails from the main ones where you can find a bench to sit on, take a deep breath and admire your surroundings.

The numerous gardens are laid out as follows:

GEOGRAPHIC – Andean Cloud Forest, Australia, California, Chile, Mediterranean, Meso-American Cloud Forest, New Zealand, South Africa, Southeast Asia Cloud Forest, Temperate Asia.

TAXONOMIC (shared characteristics) – Camellias, High Elevation Palms, Magnolias, Rhododendrons.

THEMATIC – Ancient Plants, Moon Viewing Garden, Conifer Lawn, Celebration Garden, Fountain Plaza, Garden of Fragrance, Great Meadow, Succulent Garden, Zellerbach Garden.

If you have a flexible schedule while in “The City”, there are plenty of free times of admission to consider where you can save a few bucks. And in San Francisco you will certainly want to conserve cash whenever you can. The San Francisco Botanical Garden admits visitors for free daily from 7:30 a.m. to 9 a.m., and all day on the second Tuesday of each month. There is also free admission on Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day, and New Years Day.

For a fun summer activity, consider having a picnic here. Guests are welcome to bring their own food and beverages for as many as 10 people, though catering, furniture, and entertainment are not permitted. The botanical garden is a beautiful venue for relaxation and to get caught up with family and friends.

Open daily, a wonderful way to end your visit is by checking out the Garden Bookstore and Plant Shop. Find books, horticultural gifts, clothing, nick knacks, and yes, plants to take home.

Japanese Tea Garden

With the oldest operating public Japanese garden in all of North America located in Golden Gate Park, be sure not to miss the opportunity to immerse yourself in the natural beauty and peaceful atmosphere that this special place exudes.

You will be surrounded by cherry trees, clipped azaleas, stunning Japanese maples, and twisting pines, all of which are native to Japan. Originally created for the 1894 California Midwinter International Exposition, the tea garden has undergone numerous transformative periods that have led to what exists today.

The striking “Treasure Tower” pagoda is a Buddhist shrine with five tiers that was constructed as part of a temporary indoor display for the 1915 Panama-Pacific Exposition. Along with the Temple Gate, it was relocated from the display hall to the Japanese Tea Garden at the close of the fair.

Visitors to the Japanese Garden are drawn to the highly arched pedestrian bridge, or drum bridge. In Japanese it is called a “taiko bashi” because the bridge appears to be a full circle when reflected into the adjacent pond, resembling a drum. Designed by Shinshichi Nakatani, there is a commemorative at the bridge which recognizes his contribution to Golden Gate Park.

The dry landscape garden or “Karesansui” was designed by Naao Sakurai. Dedicated in January of 1953, this fascinating portion of the garden features large stones along with gravel that is raked into waves. This is designed to be representative of waterfalls, mountains, and the ocean. Tortoise shaped islands symbolize good luck and immortality in Japanese folklore.

By arranging the stone and gravel artistically, and with the occasional inclusion of plants, a Karesansui dry landscape garden can depict a wide range of landscapes that are visually similar to much of Japan.

Japanese garden designers create an atmosphere where Buddhist and Shinto religious beliefs are represented. The use of water, rocks, and gravel often lead to a relaxed, calming view to be enjoyed by visitors strolling by. The walking pace within these unique gardens is typically slow and pensive.

The Japanese Tea Garden opens at 9 a.m. daily with the last entry scheduled for 30 minutes prior to closing. Admission is FREE from 9 a.m. to 10 a.m. on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays.

Centrally located in the garden, visitors will come upon the Tea House, the perfect place to stop and sip a cup of hot tea and snack on Japanese refreshments. The south-facing building overlooks a small pond and is designed to invite guests to sit and relax at the family table on-site. This is known as an “irori”, or farmhouse-style. The Tea House occupies the exact location as the structure built for the 1894 California Midwinter International Exposition.

Honestly, we can’t think of a better location to experience San Francisco away from the hustle and bustle of the central city. The heart of Golden Gate Park is a superb spot to reconnect with yourself and any accompanying friends or relatives who may be joining you on this day.

Today’s Japanese Garden is five acres of spectacular scenery that have become one of the most popular attractions in San Francisco. In addition to pagodas, the drum bridge, and tea house, visitors are drawn to the stone lanterns, steppingstone paths, koi ponds, Japanese plants, and trees, and in March and April, the incredible blossoming cherry trees.

Make Time for Golden Gate Park

Few cities offer as much to visitors as does San Francisco. Perhaps best known for the Golden Gate Bridge, Fisherman’s Wharf, Chinatown, and cable cars, San Francisco and the Bay Area are in a category of its own. It’s no wonder that this is one of the most popular American cities to explore.

Golden Gate Park is a gem of an urban oasis that is sometimes overlooked by visitors but given its central location and the ease of getting here by public transport, we highly recommend spending at least a few hours here, and hopefully more. With San Francisco itself being a reasonably small city, if you are staying at a hotel in town, you can be here in a matter of minutes.

The San Francisco Botanical Garden, Japanese Tea Garden, and Tea House are just a few of the highlights of this magnificent park, plus you can visit for free at select times. Just put on a pair of comfortable walking shoes and head on over. You will be glad you did!